Ball-returning golf apparatus



Oct. 30, 1928. 1,689,476

w. c. BRUMDER BALL RETURNING GOLF APPARATUS Filed Aug. 15, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 30, 1928. v 1,689,476

w. c. BRUMDER BALL RETURNING GOLF APPARATUS Filed Aug. 15, 1925 2 Sh ee ts-Sh'eet v 2 Patented Oct. 30, 1928.

NITED STATES WILLIAM C- BRUMDER, 0F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

BALL-RETURNING GOLF APPARATUS.

Application filed August 15, 1923. Serial 510. 657,529.

My invention relates to golf apparatus and more particularly to an apparatus fol-practicing putting which is provided with means for returning the hall to the player.

My invention more particularly relates to a device comprising an inclined runway having an opening therein representing the hole into which the ball is to be put and means Within the opening for receiving the ball, said means including a device for ejecting the ball from the opening back onto the runway to return the same to the player. Said means may be either manually or automatically operated and may be either mechanically or electrically operated.

It is the purpose of the invention to provide golf apparatus comprising an inclined runway which is adapted to be folded into a compact space, said means comprising a support, or supports, for said runway which may be adapted to be folded into position adjacent the runway and means for receiving the ball after the same has passed through the hole in the runway, which means is also fol dable into position adjacent the runway.

The supporting means is preferably adjust able so that the angularit of the runway may be varied as desired. f desired, the dcvice may also be provided with means for ejecting the ball from the opening back onto the runway to return the same to theplayer, which means is also foldable to a positlon closely adjacent the runway. U

Other objects and advantages. of the invention will appear as the descriptionoi the accompanying drawings proceeds. v

However, I desire to have it distinctly understood that-I do not intend to limit, myself to the exact details shown or describechbut that I intend to include as part of my invention all such obvious changes and modifications of parts as would occur to a person skilled in this art and as would fall within the scope of the claims.

In the drawings: I

Fig.1 is a vertical sectional view of my improved putting apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig.1 of an apparatus of the nature shown in Fig. 1 with an automatically operable ejecting device; and

Fig. 4 is a plan. View of the structure shown in Fi 3.

Referring in detail to the drawings, my

invention comprises an inclined runway. 10 which rests on a supporting surface 11 on one end thereof and which is provided with a rodlike support-or leg 12- at the other end thereof. Said leg passesthrough an aperas desired.

The runway 10 is provided with an opening 18 into which the ball 19 is adapt-ed to drop when the same is hit in the proper direction to enter the hole. A support 20 for the ball 19 is provided below the opening 18, said supporting member 20 being hinged to the cross member 21 of the U-shaped frame 22 having the laterally extending pivot members 23 pivotally mounted in the hinge members 24 provided on the member 10. The member 20 has a stopmember 25 secured thereto, said member 25 having a stop finger. 26 pro ecting beyond the member 20' and.

way 10. The member 20 may be made of any desired shape but is shown in Fig.2 as being substantially circular. and slightly smaller than the openingv 18. Said supporting member is shown in Figs; 1. and-2 as being split at 28 to provide a flap 29 thereon, hinged at 30 to an extension 81 on the member 25, said flap 29 having a linger 32 thereon.

It will be evident from the above that the ball, if hit in the proper direction and with the proper force, will enter the opening 18 and move into'position on the member 20'. The ball can not pass between the members 20 and 10 so as to be deposited below the runway 10 due to the fact that the stop member 26 will not allow the movement of the member 20 a su'liicient distance away from the run-. way 10 so that the ball 19 can pass therebetween.

The ball will lodge in the position shown in Fig. 1 when it comes to rest and suitable means is provided for ejecting the ball from the opening 18, comprising the lever 33 having an eye 34 on the end thereof and having a transyersely extending portion 35 passing through hinge ears 36 on the member 10. The member 35 is provided with an angular end portion 37 carrying a finger 38 engaging the member 22.

The preferred way of operating the ejecting means manually is to strike the member a blow with a golf club, causing the member 38 to engage with the member 22 with a sharp blow, throwing the member 20 upwardly sufliciently to dislodge the ball 19, causing the same to roll down the runway 10. By providing the flap 29 an additional ejecting action is obtained, as the finger 32 will engage with the under side of the runway 10, and throw the flap into an angular position relative to the member 20, thus throwing the end thereof adjacent the split 28 upwardly through the opening 18. The material of the runway 10 is deflected upwardly on diagonal lines as indicated at 10 to deflect the ball away from the hole 18 if it over-runs the same, and the runway is provided with a rear stop flange 41 and side flanges 42 to prevent the ball from rolling off the same.

In Figs. 3 and 4, the runway is provided with adjustable supporting means comprising the sections 51 and 52 connected together by means of threaded pins 53 extending through the slots 54 and having wing nuts 55. Said runway has a ball supporting member 56 pivoted at 57 to the member 50, said member 56 being positioned below the opening 58. The member 56 is limited in its downward movement by the flexible member 59 secured to the extension 60 on said mem ber 56 and is provided with an enlargement 61 under the hole 57.

In the form shown in Figs. 3 and 4-, the device is provided with means for automatically ejecting the ball, the means being shown as electrical means therein. Said electrical means comprise a light metallic ball receiving member 62 secured to the member 56 by means of the bolt 63 having an insulating bushing 64. The member 62- is provided with a contact member 65 which is adapted to cooperate with a corresponding contact mei ber 66 on the member 56 by means of the insulating bushing 67. The contact 66 is connected with the battery 68 by means of the conductor 69 and a conductor 70 leads from said battery to the electro-magncts 71 mounted on the lower side of the member 56 from which a conductor 72 leads to the member 62. The member 62 being metallic, the engagement of the contact 65 thereon with the contact 66 will complete the circuit through the battery 68 and the electro-magnets 71, cansing the electro-magnets 71 to attract the armature 73 provided 011 the member 56, thus causing an upward movement of the member 56 suliicient to dislodge the ball from the opening 57. The contact between the members 65 and 66 is made by engagement of the hall with the member 62, the member 62 being sutlicientiy springy to permit the depression thereof by the weight of the ball on the engagement of the ball therewith when dropping into the opening, whereupon the electrical circuit is completed to operate the magnets thereupon to cause the member 56 to move upwardly and discharge the ball from the pocket or hole.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to claim and secure by U. S. Letters Patent is:

1. In a ball returning golf apparatus of the character described, an inclined runway having an opening therein, said opening being adapted to receive a golf ball rolled along said runway, means for supporting said ball within said opening, and means for ejecting said ball from said opening to return it to the players.

2. In a ball returning golf apparatus of the characterdescribed, an inclined runway having an opening therein, said opening being adapted to receive a golf ball rolled along said runway, means for supporting said ball within said opening, and means for ejecting said ball from said opening to return it to the player, said means comprising a member adapted to be struck a blow to operate said ejecting means 3. In a ball returning golf apparatus of the character described, an inclined runway having an opening therein, said opening being adapted to receive a golf ball rolled along said runway, and a ball supporting member below said opening, said member being mounted to be swung toward and away from said runway to thereby return the ball to the player.

4:. In a ball returning golf apparatus of the character described, an inclined runway having an opening therein, said opening beingadapted to receive a golf ball rolled along said runway, a ball supporting member below said opening, said member being mounted to be swung toward and away from said runway to thereby return the ball to the player, and means for limitingthe movement of said member away from said runway. V

5. In a ball returning golf apparatus of the character described, an inclined runway having an'opening therein, said opening being adapted to receive a golf ball rolled along said runway, a ball supporting member below said opening, said member being mounted to be swung toward and away from said runway to thereby return the ball to the player, and means for moving said member toward said runway to eject a ball from said opening.

6. In a ball returning golf apparatus of the character described, an inclined runway having an opening therein, said opening be ing adapted to receive a golf ball rolled along said runway, a ball supporting member below said opening, said member being mounted to be swung toward and away from said runway to thereby return the ball to the player, and means for moving said member toward said runway to eject a ball from said opening, said means comprising a member adapted to engage said supporting member to cause an upward movement thereof.

7. In a golf apparatus, a runway, and means for supporting said runway in inclined position comprising a member pivotally secured to said runway, a supporting leg and means on said member for engaging and holding said leg at any one of a plurality of points Intermediate its ends, said means comprising a pair of releasable gripping members engaging said leg. a

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 9th day of August, A. D., 1923.

' WILLIAM C. BRUMDER. 

